1957-06-27; Clare Sentinel

              Y»*
Established 1378
$2.50 Year in Glare, Isabella Oouniies
CLARg; MICHIGAN, THURSDAY" JUNE 27r 1957
Ten Cents Copy
T'
Hew Series, Vol. 65, No. 41
SAND SEEPED IN
Y
8s    *
Disabled Well Adds
To City Winter Frets
"We never miss the water until the -well goes dry", the old
saying goes. And it is doubly
true that we miss the water when
days are hot and dry,
Clare residents are presently
missing city water caused by
dropping pressure in the mains
and the situation is most acute
during, these past lew hot June
days.
The city is beset by fresh wa^
ter troubles.
Supposedly having three water
supply wells to furnish fresh
water for the multitude of uses
we demand, Clare is getting by
just now on the supply from only
one well. And that flqw is estlma-
Grove Bros.
Five & Dime
2
Grove Brothers 5c to $1 store,
the first business to rebuild since
the fire that swept away five
Clare businesses last January J7
will open the doors of its brand
new building on July 2.
Grove Brothers have been in
business in Clare since 1937, except for the six months interruption it took to replace their
building, so the new building
will also serve to mark their
20th Anniversary of operation
here.
The grand opening event will
continue into July 3 with gifts,
prizes* and open house at the enlarged and completely modern
new building on McEwan Street.
Other Clare merchants have
contributed such prizes as hams,
clothes cleaning, • pizza pie dinners and cameras, and Groves
will add household goods, flowers
and clothing*to make.up a long
list of items included, in a huge
free drawing. t
During the grand opening
event, the Clara Rebekah lodge
will be serving lunches in the
store's completely modern new
basement. Proceeds will go to
the IOOF-Rebekah Lodge's build
ing fund. The Lodge members
lost their hall in the January fire.
The first 200 mothers -that stop
. in the store Wednesday morning
will receive orchids. In addition
there will be halloons, candy and
gum for the youngsters arid simulated pearls -vvhile they last, for
their big sisters.
Customers will be waiting on
themselves, self-serve fashion.
A double check-out counter has
been installed at the door. Merchandise is departmentalized, so
that the visitor can handily .find
what he wants.
The new building will have
more floor space than the old one
besides extra selling and display
space in the basement. The outside walls are of pink tinted^ cement blocks, coupled with plate
glass, aluminum and brick work
in front. The new building has
a single entrance on the side
front.
Inside, an overhead innovation,
a "floating ceiling", of fiber
glass and aluminum will be hung
from the rafters. The floors are
tiled. 'Sanford Mott has been gen-
' eral contractor for the Work.'
The complete interior is an
open sweep of freestanding display islands, -uncluttered by partitions. A stairway near the
front leads to the basement
sales floor.'
Putting stocks on the shelves
was in progress all this week,
• with much stock to come in yet
' this weekend.
Crash Fatal to
Former Pastor
•.    Word has been received here
' that Rev. John Loekyer, „ 70, a
former  pastor    of    the    Clare
Methodist Church Wos killed in
. an auto accident Monday.
Funeral    services  are    "being
held Thursday (today) from the
Prindle Funeral Home in Law-
' ton.    He    leaves    his "Wife,    a
.daughter and two sons..
Rev, Loekyer served the Clare
church frdm J93i'33, and re
tir<-fd in 1952, following his
three year charge at Lawton.
.Since his retirement *, he has
supplied" several- charges, , and
.had: been living at Magician
Lake, ne"ar Benton Harbor,   . •■*•
ted at five hundred gallons per
minute.
Occasionally when water is
used at a fast rate and-the supply
tank level drops, a second well
pumps long enough to maintain
the* pressure. .
The newest well — an east side
addition to the city water system supply, is useless. This new
well is. dry. Sand has plugged
the screens and damaged pumping and power equipment so that
the well has been closed down
pending re-drilling or extensive
re-development.
Some regard it as a sad catastrophe that Clare, once boasting
the "finest drinking water in the
world" has come to see the loss
of this resource.
. Thfe city's old Well Number 1
located at the pump house in
the city park was condemned
some time ago.. Health authorities said that it is located too
close to sources of pollution.
Well number 2,. drilled to replace One is located near the intersection of Fourth Street and
Maple. Two is a monster producer- City Manager Willard
Wedge said that Two is capable
of pumping 1,200 to 1,500 gallons per minute.
But the water from Two is objectionable because it carries a
sulfur odor. Residents complain
that Two's heavily, mineralized
water, especially when heated,
has a sickening smell of sulfur
Which can also be tasted in drinking or cooking. $
So well Number 2 is called upon for water only when the pressure needs boosting temporarily.
Let's skip to city Well Number
4, — the one which proved to be
the disappointment.
Four was drilled last winter at
a location on the city's farm
property near Cherry Grove cem
etry. It was supposed to increase
Clare's . somewhat low water
pressure, e_p_cially on the east
side of town.
Testing on the site located a
plentiful vein of water in gravel
about 124 feet below the surface*
The well was drilled.
Best opinion was that Four
would contribute as much as 750
gallons of water per minute for
the city's use.
But the well, after testing so
satisfactorily, pumped only one
day before it went "dry". Actually what happened, according to
Mr. Wedge was that sand seeped
its way through the gravel
around the screen and plugged
the intake.
Attempts to pump more water
after allowing the sand to settle
only brought more troubles. The,
over-labored pump first blew
fuses in the electrical power
lines and the load finally burned
out a transformer.
As of Tuesday this week, the
city was waiting word from the
State Geologist's office and from
Ohio Drilling company experts
as to the best course to follow in
restoring Well Number 4.
Possibilities are that consultants may recommend deepening
the well to avoid the silt-like sand
Or Four may be -"surged" until
clear of the plugging element.
Hopes are to get this newest well
back into operation as soon as
possible.
Surging a well is the pumping
out and in of water to loosen the
fine sand around the screens and
bring it out of the well where it
can not collect at the water intake. All the citys wells are surged before going into operation
but in the case of Four, more
treatment may be thought necessary.
, While Four is out of production
Well Number 3 at the west end
of.John R. Street is the sole continuous water supply for Clare.
Heavy drawing on the supply
makes it necessary to pump Two
sometimes which accounts for oc:
casional whiffs of sulfur in
household water.
Water Tank
Repairs
Clare's city water tank in the
park is getting a repair and
cleaning job this week.
Clarence Ramey, in charge of
the . Streets and Water Department had a crew of rnen at wprk
Tuesday night and Wednesday
rnorning draining the big "stand
tank so that the contractor's
workmen could clean and re-coal
the inside/
Outside repairs are also ordered. '■.„■•;
City Manager' Willard Wedge
Said that the big job has to' be
done 0nee(in every five years. <t'"
Mr. Wedge assured The Sentinel that water from Two is approved for drinking and healthfully pure. But the odor fault
is recognized and the water
source is not used more than necessary for the time being.
Crowds View
New Jail At
Harrison
County citizens turned out in
crowds to attend the dedication
of the new jail at Harrison last
Tuesday, and to view facilities
for prisoner confinement during,
open house tours of the building,
Jim Darling, Clare County
Sheriff, said that crowds began
arriving at the one o'clock opening hour and continued until
seven o'clock.
County supervisors attended
in a group and were first to be
shown the jail.
The program included an address by Judge Donald E. Holbrook, and the introduction of
Albert Haley, Jail Committee
Chairman and Chairman of the
County   Supervisors.
James 'S. Bieknell, III, County
Prosecutor was master of ceremonies and he introduced all
county officials. Remarks wer^
heard from Hon. Russell E.
Strange, Legislative Representative, and William Nestle, State
Jail Inspector.
200 Loss In
Break-ffiAt
Salvage Store
About $200 worth of items
were reported missing Wednesday morning from the Railroad,
Salvage Store located, north of
Clare on US-27.
Proprietors of the store reported the breaking and entering to Clare County Sheriff
James Darling's office at a little before 8 a.m. Wednesday.
A pick axe was apparently
used to force entrance to the
building, Sheriff Darling said.
The latch was smashed from the
door and door frame was broken,
he reported.
A garage door at the back of
the building evidently had been
raised to gain entrance, Sheriff
Darling said, but failing there,
the culprits proceeded to force
their entrance at the front. A
heavy rain Tuesday night washed away all'sign of tracks.
Mrs. Mayme Neeley, of 116
East Fifth Street, was treated at
Clare General Hospital after sh-j
was struck by a car Sunday forenoon, at the Fifth Street and
US-27 intersection.
The driver of the car that
struck her was Patrick Crawford, a Thayer Dairy employee.
Mr. Crawford told Clare City
Police who were called to the
scene that he was watching another car run through an amber
light, and did not see Mrs. Neel
ey. Mrs. Neeley suffered a
fractured pelvis and bruises on
her arms.
Mr. Craword was ticketed by
police for failure to have his car
under control.
An automobile, identified as
one stolen .from a Lake George
owner, has been recovered by
Clare Police this week. Police
said they have questioned two
boys in the theft. No complaint
has been signed, yet, they said.
SPECIAL NOTICE
Another hoU-ay, July .4,
will fall on Thursday next
week, and the Sentinel reminds
advertisers and news Contributors that deadlines will be set
ahead one day, since the Sentinel will'be in ihe mail Wednesday instead of Thursday.
'Display advertisers should
Order space before Saturday
noon, and should have copy in
by Monday, Contract advertisers will he calltd on early, also-
Classified advertisers should1
have copy in by Monday at
noon, Classified display advertisers, will be called that morri-**
ing*
N<-ws.\ eon-espo-ndents and
contributors should. ■ submit
copy by Monday morning at
the latest
Is Mew Ag Agent
■ Clare County Agricultural Agent. Paul Gibson, for' 29
years a familiar figure in rural extension.,wo_k here will retire this weekend and his replacement is due to take over
the office at Harrison oh July 1,
Richard Schroeder, farmer teacher and authority; on
modern farming and farm production, equipment has been
assigned to Clare county by Michigan State University,
East Lansing,
Mr. Schroeder's responsibility'
in his new position includes
leadership in the entire rural extension service for the county.
A native of Charlotte, Michigan, Mr. Schroeder is presently
living in East Jordan. He is
married and the father of four
children.
Prior to joining the staff of
MSU in February, 1957, Mr.
Schroeder taught . Vocational
Agriculture and Farm Shop from
1941 to *1954 in East Jordan,
Sunfield, Vermontvjlle, . Charlotte and Pickford, all in Michigan.        *    • '■':,.
He has broad experience in
Working with young peopleY
Since 1954, the county's new
Ag. Agent* took a post with the
United, States Government's
Point-Four . Program.. He was.
Farm Machinery Advisor to the
government of Pakistan. '
Mr. Schroeder was granted his
BS degree in 1941 and a Master's
degree in 1946, both from MSU.
Honors coming to him Include
membership in Alpha Beta,; an
honorary Agricultural fraternity.
Plans call for Mrs, Schroeder
and their children to join him in
Harrison where they will find a
home as soon as possible.
Richard A. Schroeder
>■>  ..S's       •>
Personnel Lack
Stalls Progress
Of Child Clinic
Directors of the Central Michigan Child Guidance* Clinic, hopeful that "a start" can be made
yet this year although no spe?if-
ic appropriation is available at
the state level, vqted last Wednesday to invite Charles F.
Wagg, director' of the mental-
health 'department' to Mt.
Pleasant for a conference.
The action was taken in the
hope of cleaning up several uncertainties and questions that
have arisen in connection with
the clinic to serve a six-county
area.
Local funds for the clinic already have been pledged by Various organizations and boards of
supervisors in the district.
Senator Lynn Francis, Midland, in his report to constituents, made these significant
comments:
An increase of 31,. million dollars was approved (by the Legislature) over last year even
though the mental health department turned back $1,724,517
of unused funds last year.
"We have worked diligently to
establish a child guidance clinic
at Mt. Pleasant, but have constantly been confronted with the
fact that there is not available
sufficient personnel at this time
to staff the project.
"If the personnel could be obtained, we might hope to get
some sort of financing before
the year is over."
The senator's last statement
raised,'hope that something can
be worked out to get the clinic
started before a year from now,
or after another session of the
Legislature.
Herbert Marshall, clinic chairman, said he believed Mr. Wagg
could clarify the department's
position in this possibility.
Directors wiU be called for a
special meeting after a date has
been set with Mr. Wagg, Director James Morton (Mecosta) was
named to contact the state director.
Directors also proposed a
meeting with Dr. Norman West-
lund, head of the Saginaw clinic, which provides limited service to the area now.
No Help - So
CofCGoesSolo
. The Clare Chamber of Commerce organization is" about to
become the owner of a large roadside billboard near North Bradley
The sign was planned for-benefit
of a string of US>27 towns and
is worded to direct traffic past
cutoffs onto the US-27' main
route north.
Other communities,, counted on
for support in paying-for the big
40x24 ft sign have backed out of
the project and the Clare C of
C Will buy it alone^
The sign is brand new, replacing a neon-lighted sign on the
same road. It reads, "Mackinaw
Bridge, Straight Ahead to US-27.
kStop, Pause and Relax in Clare".
Downtown Clare Ready
On Eve Of Second Annual
Sale Tomorrow
Clare's Sidewalk Day Sale in
readiness for tomorrow, needs
only clear warm weather to
bring outdodrs the displays and
stocks of merchandise and crowd
the town with shopping throngs.
If rain spoils the Friday sale
on the city sidewalks, then arrangements have been made to
hold the complete event on Saturday.
Free attractions on Sidewalk
Day include a matinee for children at the Ideal   Theatre   from
Gasoline Dealers Say
'No More Trade Stamps'
PAUL D. GIBSON
Spikehorn
Fined For
£-&> License
Spikehorn Meyers, of Harrison, was found guilty by a six
member jury in Clare Municipal Court, Friday, June 21, of
failure to obtain a permit from
the Conservation Department to
keep and exhibit wild bears.
The aged zoo-keeper, who runs
a wildlife park near Harrison,
plead guilty to the charge When
arraigned on June 18, and asked
for the jury trial.
Following the jury's verdict,
Justice William B. Dunlop sentenced Mr. Meyers to pay $25
fine and $16.30 court costs. Mr.
Meyers said he Would appeal
the verdict to Clare county circuit court.
A fire destroyed part of
Spikehorn's Bear Den, south of
Harrison on US-27 in January of
this year. .
Kids May Get
Tickets Now
On Free Bike
A free bicycle will be given
away at the Clare County Fair
again this year, and Clare County resident school children,
grades, kindergarten through
eighth 'grade may pick up their
tickets now.
The tickets may be obtained at
the home of their school dis,
trict secretary, or from their
school superintendent, according
to Lenord Schwanz, Clare county
superintendent   of  schools.
Retail gasoline dealers . from
Clare,- Farwell and Harrison
met at the Hotel Ooherty last
Monday evening, and took preliminary step's toward completing formation of a Clare County Chapter 'of"the Retail Gasoline * Dealer's 'Association -.. of
Michigan.   ' '' r
All dealers- present were delighted to learn- that trading
stamps and premiums, termed a
terrific drain oh the profits of
all Small business people in all
parts of the coimtry, will no
longer; be available* from gasoline dealers in-Clare after'July
First.
An advertisement on page 8
of this newspaper explains reasons for discontinuing the trading stamp  and premiums plan.
Selected as 'temporary president pending regular election of
officers was Art Ulrich of Clare.
Mr. Ulrich immediately appointed Bob Schellhas, Ernie Bryant
and Wilbur Fletcher, all from
Clare, to act as a nominating
committee.
A meeting for the purpose of
electing permanent officers is
scheduled for Wednesday, July
10, It is hoped that alt dealers
from the area^ whether members W•"?(_-; mil pktt_n_Y Time
and place Will be announced
later.
Special guests were' dealers
from Gladwin, Cadillac and Mt.
Pleasant, including Ed Illig of
Cadillac, President of the Wexford County chapter and Bud
Archie of Mt. Pleasant, president of the Isabella County chapter.
Many problems confronting
the retail segment of the petroleum industry were discussed,
un-economic ov_r-building of
service stations,, short term,
leases, Unnecessarily long hours
of operation, the effect of gasoline surpluses) etc.
Ways and means of bettering
service tp motorists, one of the
prime objectives of the organization, were also aired.
Guest speaker of the evening
was Tom Spouse "of Royal Oak,
Field Director of the State Association, assisted by Dick Bag-
nail of. Qwosso. area Field Rep
resentative.
McConnell
Truck Saved
•*
An oil and gas bulk-delivery
truck belonging to Nick McConnell caught on fire Tuesday and
was damaged about $50. worth
before h_ smothered the flames
with a blanket;
Clare Fire Department equip
ment sped 'to the scene outside oi
town and reported that a spark
from static electricity was
blamed for the start of the fire
in the hose carrying compartment.
Area Girls
Invited To
■    ' Y Y.
Scout Dance
„ About 200 explorers have registered to attend the Explorer
Citizens Now Conference to ,be
held this coming Thursday, * Fri-
nay, Saturday June 27, 28, 29. It
will be held at Central Michigan
College in Mt. Pleasant..
As a special feature of the
conference, there will be a dance
on Friday evening the 28th from
8:00 to 12:00 p.m. starring Herb
Camp's orchestra from Midland.
All girls between the ages of 14
and 18 years old are invited to
attend the dance free. The dance
is semi-formal, The girls .should
provide their own transportation
to and. from the dance. They
should live within reasonable nriv
ing distance from Mt Pleasant.
Naturally success of the dance
Will depend ISTgely upon the t_fn
out of girls from, the Mt. Pleasant area attending the dance.
\
Girls from Clare, Rosebush,
Weidman, Farwell, Harrison
Lake George, Lake Station, Cole
man, Midland, Winn, Blanchard,
Beale City, Shepherd, St. Louis,
Ithaca, and Alma are especially
invited to participate.
On Saturday morning at 10:08
A. M. there will be field sports
for the girls and explorers to enjoy, Rifle-marksmanship, trap
shooting, archery, tennis, 'golf,
swimming will be offered for the
young people. Free tickels may
be picked up at the floor for the
dance on Friday evening or by
Writing to Ted Scheall, arrangements chairman, 900 south Brown
in Mt. Pleasant.
In addition to the fun the Explorers 'and young ladies' will
have during these special features, the Explorers will set the
pace for the* teen-agers of this
area by discussing the problems
that" these young people have in
the home and in the community.
They hope to come up with reasonable .solutions to these problems. They will help make it
known that they are citizens today, not tomorrow*
Tom Rand, Explorer from Mt,
Pleasant, who is the Explorer
Chairman, promises that those
Explorers and young ladies that
participate ,in this unique conference will enjoy themselves to
the limit.
Jack .Scheall, Scout Executive
remarked that Central Michigan
College has gone all out to open
their doors to these young citizens of today.
2:45 to 4:15, and a free pave*
ment dance on Fourth street at
9 p.m. Giveaways are ready--
Peanuts will be in containers
with "help yourself" labels and.
coffee and donuts and various
article at store displays will add"
to the list of treats offered.
A special sixteen-page section
of Sidewalk Day advertisements
and promotion is part of this
newspaper. In addition, Sidewalk
Day bargains appear in ads on
pages 11 arid 7 and 2 of the regular news sections."
publicity has flooded the air
and news to help build interest
for this Clare Chamber of Commerce enterprise. Shoppers are
expected in Clare from an area
as big as all of central Michigan,
With the; combination of fun
and a carnival air together with
the once-a-year values offered in
every conceivable line of merchandise, Shoppers find a lot to
see and buy in Clare on SWS
Day.
For this year's sale, 35 more
businesses will move merchandise out on the sidewalk, in addition to all those merchants
who took part last year..
Jay Green Jr., who is chairman of the retailers' committee
said over $700 has been raised to
finance the project, nearly a
50% increase over last year's
financing effort.
Merchants whose business locations are out of Clare's main
shopping areas have arranged
for downtown sidewalk space for
the day, and will be offering
bargains put in the open air
along with other retailers.
The retailers' committee has
steadily emphasized to merchants the importance of offering real values, to contribute to
the success of the selling event
that <1ias beett re'eeivetl so. &*
thitsiastically.
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New
Jail
__£$(*lHi^^
Clare county got a chance to see tho new jail at Harrison last Tuesday
when an open house sightseeing day. and dedication program brought
many residents to the cotXnly. seat. In use since January, the new jail is
calle.d one of ihe best small institutions of its kind in ihe State. ,,
-f. j. ' ~. ke« Sowle Photo
Newspaper  correspondents '
receive a small magazine called Folks, and this month the
Sentinel's    society   reporter,
Fanny Yeoman, is a contribu-
" tor to it, Mrs. Yeoman composed a hidden rule, regular
feature of Folks, and it was
accepted.   The   hidden   part
comes    in    scrambling    the
words, and here it is: Ppeloe
ear nnyfu .Fi oyu lacl yhet
vahe on ewns, tub f i ouy ssmi
iimte yeht rae rues ot vaeh a
odgo tyros nda If ee oyu hvao
ndeegtlce mteh".
A' fawn created a real stir in
the East Seventh Street neighbor
hood Friday evening. The fawn
scampered     around     backyards
with   Conservation  Officer  Don
Bell and some helping hands in
hot   pursuit    and   was   finally
caught   on   the   school   grounds.
•Some well meaning wildlife iover
had brought it out of the woods,
Which serves as an occasion to
remind that fawns are very' rarely    abandoned-   or    motherless.
Conservation people say the mother may be away feeding but
she'll eventually get back to her
fawn, so leave them hfthe woods
Facsimilies of the American Declaration of Indepenfi-
ence, With some of ltistory'fe.
most famous signatures on it?
will be given away to motor- *
ists during the Fourth of July
holiday aiid week end by Sinclair dealers. Russ Kiihl, local   dealer   has   announced.
The,  reproductions   are   on
parchment paper suitable for
framing* and will be available
to   civic,   Veteran,   i'eligrious
and educational organizations
also,- Mr.: Kulu said.
JCsToSeat*
New Officers
Clare Jaycees will hold their
regular meeting July 1, at 7:00
p.m. at Richardson's Willowbrook
Restaurant. There will be a Short
business meeting followed by the
installation of new officers elected at the last meeting. There,
will then be a short program and
refreshments will be served..